Recall 12V099 affects 326,014 2009-2012 Subaru Forester vehicles for rear-center seat belt retractors that can loosen child restraints. Free repair at any franchised Subaru dealer.
Subaru is recalling 326,014 2009-2012 Forester vehicles because the rear center seat belt's automatic locking retractor does not meet lockability requirements for child restraints. An insecure child restraint installation increases injury risk in a crash, and the Subaru dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The rear center seat belt in the 2009-2012 Subaru Forester includes an automatic locking retractor. That retractor is the spool mechanism that lets the belt pull out for normal use, then locks the webbing so a child restraint can be held firmly in that seating position. For NHTSA campaign 12V099, the issue is that this locking function does not meet the required child-restraint lockability standard.
On affected Foresters, the rear center belt assembly can fail to lock tightly enough for proper installation and secure attachment of a child restraint. The concern is not the buckle or the child seat itself. It is the belt's locking action in the rear center seating position.
There is no warning sign before failure. The belt can look normal during everyday use, so the VIN decides whether this recall applies to a specific Forester.
Who's affected?
Spans four Forester model years, all tied to the same rear seat belt component.
| 2009 Subaru Forester | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2010 Subaru Forester | seat belt |
| 2011 Subaru Forester | seat belt |
| 2012 Subaru Forester | seat belt |
| Units affected | 326,014 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
When the rear center seat belt does not lock a child restraint securely, the child restraint can move more than intended in a crash, increasing injury risk for a child. Use another seating position for a child restraint until your VIN and repair status are confirmed. Repair will be free at any franchised Subaru dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2009-2012 Subaru Forester is included in this recall.
- Contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783 to confirm dealer instructions for recall number 12V099.
- Schedule the rear center seat-belt assembly replacement that gives the child restraint a proper locking retractor.
- Bring the recall notice Subaru mailed, or reference recall number 12V099 when you call.
- Avoid installing a child restraint in the rear center seating position until the seat-belt assembly is replaced.
What happens at the repair
The repair described for this recall is a rear center seat belt assembly replacement. Once the final dealer repair is available, a Subaru technician will replace the rear center seat belt assembly with a newly modified automatic locking retractor. The work is meant to restore proper locking for child restraint installation in that seating position. The dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall.
Timeline
| March 13, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 26, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V099?
Recall 12V099 covers 326,014 2009-2012 Subaru Forester vehicles with a rear center seat belt locking retractor that does not meet lockability requirements. The defect affects secure child-restraint installation in that seating position, and Subaru dealers replace the rear center seat belt assembly for free.
What should I do if my 2009-2012 Subaru Forester is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Forester is included in recall 12V099. If it is, contact a franchised Subaru dealer and ask for the rear center seat belt assembly replacement. Reference recall 12V099 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Subaru's remedy says dealers replace the rear center seat belt assembly with a modified automatic locking retractor free of charge.
What is the safety risk in recall 12V099?
The risk is an insecure child-restraint installation in the rear center seating position. If a child restraint is not securely attached, injury risk increases for the child during a crash. Confirm your VIN, then have a Subaru dealer complete the free seat belt assembly replacement if your vehicle is included.
What if I bought my Subaru Forester used?
The free repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. If you never received Subaru's notice, check your VIN to confirm whether your Forester is included, then call a franchised Subaru dealer with recall 12V099.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V099000 |
|---|---|
| Subaru customer service | 1-800-782-2783 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V099 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V099000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →